What's so Great about this Day?

It's St. Patrick's Day and I'm more than a little Irish? Nah. That happens every year. In no particular order…here are things that are making my day.

I finally have the puppy housetrained. I suppose that just means more waste outside, but for today…it is cause for celebration.

I just walked through the construction area here at Detroit Public TV's Riley Broadcast Center, and saw how the new master control room and edit suites have taken shape. I began to dream of productions we'll be capable of in the future here.

And I've also been telling anyone who will listen (and quite a few who won't) about my son's fine showing on Friday in the Cub Scout tradition of Pinewood Derby racing. This is a signature event in which kids design a car out of a small piece of wood for competition on a wooden track. It may be a signature event, but I had never heard of it until a couple of months ago. I used to think I was a pretty cognizant guy. Then my wife and I had children, and it opened up new worlds for us. Detroit Public TV has welcomed scouting groups for tours many times over the years, but after witnessing my first Pinewood Derby, my mind is racing with ideas for staging scouting events here.

On the best days you seem to be free to imagine all possibilities, and it puts you on a fast track. I'll let you know soon where this one leads.

The oddest thing...

The oddest thing happened in the Detroit Public TV booth at the Michigan Golf Show at the Rock Financial Showplace on Friday. I was there to let thousands of eager golfers know about our HOW TO BEAT THE BOGEY MAN broadcast that night. I collected hundreds of entry forms for a giveaway of an 8-disc set of Travis Fox "Beat the Bogey Man" videos. (Congratulations, Jim from Westland.)

Now, here's the odd part. In this wonderland of golf attractions, it seemed that most who approached our booth wanted to talk more about what's on WTVS rather than what happens on the course. Fortunately, I could usually tell visitors what they wanted to hear. Yep. There's a CELTIC WOMAN broadcast this weekend. Nope. You don't necessarily need to buy a new TV before all stations switch to digital next February…here's how you get a coupon for a converter box.

Then there was this gentleman who wanted just one thing - to tell me how much he appreciates the programs on Detroit Public TV and to make a donation right then and there. Is that two things? Not in our mind, because we often say "Thanks for watching and supporting Detroit Public Television." I gratefully accepted a cash donation on behalf of the station, and began telling him about various membership perks. I soon got a clue that he had already received all that he came for…a chance to contribute. We shook hands. I told him I'd respect his desire to remain an anonymous donor. I invited him to stop by for a tour of our Riley Broadcast Center, and it would be a nice, but unexpected, surprise if he takes me up on my offer.

I'm hoping thousands more viewers will take this gentleman's lead and contribute during our March Membership drive. While we appreciate all the special reasons for supporting Detroit Public TV, there are some that really hit the sweet spot.

Head Cases Welcome!

There is one magical moment that I have each year playing golf. It's my first swing. No expectations, no memories of miserable shots from the past. Instead, I experience the unfettered joy of letting it rip, and ultimately being thrilled with a drive that might be 2/3rds of a John Daly special.

Every shot after that seems to be haunted by the ghosts of bad shots past. Perhaps I should see a head coach, like Travis Fox, whose HOW TO BEAT THE BOGEY MAN airs Friday, March 7, at 9:30 p.m. on Detroit Public TV.

I admit I'm hesitant to use the Travis Fox techniques, because I think it's more fun to play with a "head case" than joyless, robotic types who minimize their atrocious shots. Where's the fun in that?

Have a favorite story of how you or a friend turned a 4 into a 9? My moments of self destruction all blend together over time, but here's a classic attributed to a good friend of mine who I'll call Gino.

After 22 (never 21 or 23) seconds of ritualistic prep, Gino duck-hooks one into the woods. He turns and glares at me, explaining "I gotta be honest with you. I was thinking about your shoes. Are they new? They're too white and I caught a glimpse during my backswing."

I offer to reposition myself directly behind him to eliminate the glares from my shoes and his anguished face.

Gino tees another one up, only to dribble it about 45 yards.

"Okay, I'm a loser. But you just might want to scuff them up. By the way, earth-toned footwear is becoming the rage. See your golf professional for details."

I'll take maniacal over mechanical every day in playing partners. If you have a great story of how you became untied on the course, I'd love to hear about it. Not looking for garden-variety moments of rage, but classic mental breakdowns (if the shoe fits.) We'll pick the story which gives us the most yucks and get you a free Travis Fox video, along with the possibility of other arbitrary forms of therapy as we deem appropriate and necessary.

For those who might want to trim 3-5 strokes off their game, let me know how the BEAT THE BOGEY MAN special worked for you.

Beat the Bogie Man Pledge Page

Bogie Man Press Release

Travis Fox Video

Posted by John O'Donnell
Communications and Brand Management
Detroit Public TV

Telling Stories out of School

After a nail-biting ride home through another snowy commute last week, my daughter Kelly greeted me with a hug. Before I could complain about my treacherous drive, she offered a story from her day at school. She told me about a woman who, a long time ago, bravely refused to give up her seat on the bus, and that she even got arrested because she stayed in her seat.

I reminded her that the woman's name was Rosa Parks, and told her that it wasn't that long ago. I was Kelly's age when this story of great courage occurred in Alabama. That made me undeservedly special in Kelly's eyes (for the next two minutes, anyway). Then I shared more about Rosa Parks - including that she had moved to our community and had continued to inspire many people over the course of a long life. Kelly was astonished when I recalled that she had seen that very bus during a visit to The Henry Ford Museum last summer.

My coat was still on from my long ride home. The frustration of that trip was already gone, replaced by Kelly's perspective on a ride that really mattered and should never be forgotten.

There are plenty of stories on Detroit Public TV this month that can give us all a fresh perspective. Check out our Sunday afternoon broadcasts of EYES ON THE PRIZE and the Independent Lens film, BANISHED, or the SPHINX COMPETITION FINALS CONCERT, Monday at 10.

John O'Donnell

Communications and Brand Management

Detroit Public TV